News
Ancient Seawater Trapped in Chesapeake Bay Crater
By Angela Messina, November 25, 2013 @ 02:22 PM (EST)
Source: National Geographic
Source: National Geographic
Scientists drilling into a crater under the Chesapeake Bay off of Virginia were surprised to find an ancient body of water dating back 100 to 145 million years ago, making it the oldest body of water ever discovered.
The crater was formed by an asteroid 35 million years ago and is 56-miles wide. The trapped seawater is about 60 square miles and is saltier than today’s seawater. It was discovered in 2005 when scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey drilled into the crater, but it took until 2012 to decisively date the water’s age.
They hope that samples of the ancient water will provide clues to the evolution of life and ocean processes.
Read more here.
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